Jim Palmer, right, smiles on election night 2006, as he watches returns showing him on his way to winning a Tustin City Council seat. In left foreground is Councilman Doug Davert. COURTESY PHOTO

I agree with Tustin Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Puckett's recent comment (Tustin News, Dec. 20) that the lawsuits between the City of Tustin and the Tustin Unified School District "should have never happened."

The lawsuits will be back in the news at the end of the month as these cases finally make it to court.

There are estimates that both parties in this lawsuit have spent in excess of $1 million dollars each – taxpayer dollars that as a former Tustin City Council member, I believe could have been put to much better use for our students and our city.

Regardless of which side triumphs in court, we the taxpayers have already lost.

We live in a beautiful small community, and we all depend on each other. This interdependence, mingled with individual self-interest, means that we must pursue thoughtful dialogue and identify common goals to work effectively together on the challenges we face.

While this is important for us as individuals, this is essential for those we elect to represent us. Yet, in the case of the school district vs. city, there appears to be little effort toward finding common goals. Of course, when litigation begins, meaningful dialogue ends; we as taxpayers are left out of the conversation.

By litigating and turning this issue over to highly paid legal counsel, we as taxpayers have been stripped of our opportunity to discuss these lawsuits with our elected leaders in an open public meeting.

What's worse is that while we the people are unable to participate in any thoughtful discussion on solutions because of the lawsuit, our politicians will share with us any opportunity to defend their side, grandstand, and throw rhetorical bombs at the other side.

If our elected leaders cannot get along with each other, how do we expect our neighbors, our young people, and our community to behave?

Our governmental entities have grown much larger than they need to be. As President Thomas Jefferson warned, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground."

As government grows, the power of the people shrinks and greater conflict arises.

These lawsuits represent so much of what is wrong with big government: a lack of meeting openness, absence of local cooperation and partnership, the loss of local decision making by seeking judicial intervention, and the wasteful expense of taxpayer dollars. We should expect more from those we elect to represent us.

It is time that our government leaders work together and resist the temptation to challenge each other. This is the only way they can responsibly and respectfully serve us, the citizens who elected them in the first place.

- Jim Palmer is the president of the Orange County Rescue Mission. He served as a Tustin City Council member from 2006 to 2010. He also previously served as a commission member of the County Housing Authority and as board member of the Corporation for National & Community Service/AmeriCorps from 2007 to 2012.

Do you have an opinion to share? Send your essays, columns and letters to Tustin@ocregister.com.

Three lawsuits between the city and Tustin Unified School District have dragged on for years, costing more than $1 million and frustrating officials and residents alike.

The suit and countersuit scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 28 deal with grading permits for construction at Heritage Elementary and Tustin High School. The district sued in February 2010 claiming that the city delayed construction by requiring grading plans and fees.

The city countersued, asking a judge to stop construction at both schools. City officials said grading permits were needed to ensure that water runoff during construction wouldn't pollute storm drains.

Meanwhile, construction continued. The quad at Tustin High opened in fall 2010. Construction was completed in summer 2011 at Heritage Elementary School, and in November 2011, a grand opening was held at the Tustin High science center.

Now the court will determine whether Tustin Unified needed city permits for the completed work.

The city lost another suit that questioned the school district's decision to move continuation and adult school students and two district departments temporarily to Heritage Elementary. A judge ruled in favor of Tustin Unified.

Feb. 2010: The school district files a lawsuit against Tustin, alleging the city is postponing construction at Heritage School and Tustin High.

March 2010: Tustin files a countersuit in an attempt to stop the construction at Heritage School and Tustin High

Dec. 13 2010: Trial set to begin, but both parties decide to continue the trial for six months and hold settlement negotiations.

April 20, 2011: City terminates negotiations.

April 29, 2011: A mandatory settlement conference is held at the Orange County Courthouse.

May 2, 2011: The trial is set to begin this day but is postponed.

August 2011: City sues over use of Heritage School.

June 2012: A judge rules in favor of Tustin Unified on the Heritage School lawsuit.

Nov. 14, 2011: The trial is set to begin this day, but it is postponed again.

July 17, 2012: The trial is set to begin this day but is postponed again to Jan. 28.

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